Storm Agnes to bring heavy wind and rain as two yellow alerts issued

A yellow rain warning will come into place for Cork, Kerry, Waterford, Carlow, Dublin, Kilkenny, Wexford and Wicklow at 7am on Wednesday and remain until midnight on Thursday. Picture: Denis Minihane

Two weather warnings have been issued for most parts of the country including Cork, Kerry and Waterford as Storm Agnes is said to bring heavy rain and strong winds on Wednesday. 

The first storm of the season, named by the UK Met Office, could see the potential for "damaging winds, heavy rain and flooding", according to Met Éireann. 

The first alert, a yellow wind warning, will come into effect at 7am on Wednesday for Leinster and Munster and will remain in place until midnight on Thursday. 

Met Éireann has said it will become "very windy on Wednesday with powerful and gusty southerly winds, veering westerly later on." 

Possible impacts include coastal flooding, difficult travel conditions, power outages and some fallen trees.

The second, a yellow rain warning will come into place for Cork, Kerry, Waterford, Carlow, Dublin, Kilkenny, Wexford and Wicklow at 7am on Wednesday and remain until midnight on Thursday. 

Met Éireann says heavy rain is expected with possible impacts to difficult travel conditions, localised flooding and poor visibility. 

Meanwhile, Monday started off breezy across Munster, Ulster and Connacht with sunny spells and showers, which should become isolated later in the afternoon. Highs of 16C to 18C are expected with moderate to fresh and gusty south to southwest winds. 

It should remain mainly dry on Monday night, with rain later developing in the west around midnight which will spread eastwards overnight and can turn heavy. 

Tuesday should see the rain clear to the east with sunshine and showers following for the rest of the day, some heavy. 

It should stay mainly dry on Tuesday night with clouds increasing from the west and rain will develop in the southwest by morning.

On Wednesday, a "deep Atlantic depression will track close to or over Ireland".

Met Éireann says the exact details of the forecast are still uncertain, but that there is the "potential for it be a very windy or stormy day with damaging winds, heavy rain and flooding." 

"Please stay up to date with forecasts and warnings regarding this over the next couple of days. Highest temperatures of 14C to 17C," the national forecaster said. 

Windy/stormy conditions and rain are expected to clear later in the night with winds easing. Low temperatures of 10C to 13C are expected. 

Meanwhile, in the North, the UK Met Office has issued a yellow warning for Antrim, Armagh, Down, Fermanagh, Tyrone and Derry as a "strong spell of winds is expected to move northeast through Wednesday". 

The alert will come into place at 10am on Wednesday and remain in place until 7am on Thursday.